Need some new ideas for your Coffee Break^®? Check out the following tips:

• Partner with another group, business, or an organization
• At the beginning of September ask all of your friends and co-workers to save their spare change and bring it to your Coffee Break^®
• Tell people why you are involved and holding a Coffee Break^®
• Bring your Coffee Break^® party to work
• Ask a local restaurant or business to donate their coffee, tea or pop sales (or a portion) for the day
• Choose a day and time where people are already gathering
• Need to get rid of some things? Get your garage sale items ready and have each friend take home 1 item for their donation
• Get your friends involved – ask them to help serve, bake or bring a friend
• Have a dress down day at work on Coffee Break^® day and have the money donated to your Coffee Break^® event
• Have Friends Bake Goodies to donate; hold a bake and share Coffee Break^® party
• Not a coffee fan? Have a Fruit Smoothie or hot chocolate get together
• Attach a theme to your Coffee Break^® - it could be a color (blue), or a place (Hawaii)
• Ask a Company to donate a Prize and have a Raffle
• Hold a Silent Auction
• Ask your workplace to donate all their coffee or pop money from now until your Coffee Break^®
• Challenge another group to see who can raise the most money or have the most people attend

How to Fundraise Online

Hosting a virtual Coffee Break^® allows you to fundraise online at the comfort of your home computer. Did you know there are some very creative things you can do with online fundraising? Here are some tips and ideas to help you get the most out of your virtual Coffee Break^®!

1. Set a Goal – By setting a goal amount for what you want to raise, you not only set a mental target for yourself but also one for your friends and family to strive for. The virtual Coffee Break^® tool has a “thermometer” that will appear once you set your goal on your profile. Let that be a motivator! It may be a little scary, but a challenge is sometimes what we need.
2. Make a list of potential supporters – Knowing who you will be approaching will help you tailor how you would like to ask for their support. You may choose to send a ‘family' email blast to and invite them to donate there, while your coworkers and friends may require a little approach such as using social media tools like Facebook invitations or notes.
3. Make a Suggested Donation Amount – Of course everyone has different capacities to give. By suggesting a donation amount you will help make your request something more tangible and more likely accepted.
4. Customize your Personal Page – Take advantage of the tools available to help you customize your virtual Coffee Break^® page because it maybe one of the strongest tool you have in your tool box. You can upload a picture or video to personalize the page. Please consider including a personalized message or story of your own. Tell people why this cause is important to you.Your donors will be coming to this page to learn more about you and your story. We all have a reason to care - share your story and let your donors know why Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is something close to your heart.
5. Fundraising E-Mail – The virtual Coffee Break^® tool has a pre-set e-mail you can send to all your friends and family, but you can also tailor it to your donors. We hope our pre-set letter will be a springboard to your own. Your story and your reason to care is, and will, be the most compelling reason to give. Encourage your supports to make their donation online – this helps us cut administrative cost and ensures immediate acknowledgement and tax receipting to your donors. It is the fastest, easiest, and safest way to make their donation.
6. Use other online tools available – There are numerous online tools available to help you connect with your donors, here are some suggestions:
   • Tweet or Blog your own Coffee Break^® hosting experience or statistics and information about Alzheimer's disease and related dementia
   • Can't meet in person? Do a virtual meet up in a group chat!
   • Send Invitations to donate or ‘join' on Facebook
   • Make a quick video ask and post it on your page and send it to friends.
   Possibilities are endless!
7. Mix up Online with Offline – Who says a virtual Coffee Break^® has to be entirely online. Let your friends and coworkers know about your Coffee Break^® over a lunch or casual walk to the coffee shop in the morning. Tell them why you have chosen to support the Alzheimer Society. Then follow up with an email with the details. Or even host a little gathering in your home, and use the online tool to collect donations and invite your friends. After all, why not mix a little fun social time for a good cause!
8. Follow-up – Don't be afraid to follow up with your potential donors with a call or another email. As we have all experienced in our own lives, sometimes we just get too busy. A reminder may be just what they need.